French authorities intend to review measures to protect museums after theft at the Louvre

French authorities plan to review measures to protect cultural sites across the country and, if necessary, strengthen security measures after the theft of jewelry in the Louvre. This was reported by the Reuters news agency on October 20.

"France will review measures to protect cultural sites throughout the country and, if necessary, strengthen security measures," the publication says.

According to French Justice Minister Gerard Darmanin, the jewelry theft has put France in a "deplorable light." In addition, opposition French politicians criticized the country's government for what they called a "national humiliation" at a time when the country was "gripped by a political crisis."

It is noted that the French Ministers of Culture and Interior held an emergency meeting and agreed to appeal to high-ranking officials across the country to "immediately assess the existing security measures already in place around cultural institutions and strengthen them if necessary."

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati added that for too long, attention had been paid to "the safety of visitors, but not the safety of works of art."

The Napoleonic plan: what damage did the looters do to the Louvre

The raiders took out the collection of treasures of the French monarchy in a few minutes.

On October 19, several intruders broke the windows of the museum and stole jewelry, after which they fled. The broken crown of Napoleon III's wife Eugenie was found near the Louvre. The largest diamond from Napoleon's collection, the Regent, remained untouched, and valuable items were stolen from the Napoleon and French Monarchs showcases.

The museum administration temporarily closed the Louvre to visitors, while the Paris prosecutor's office called two versions of the raid on the Louvre. It was noted that the investigation is working out both a version of a contract robbery and a version related to money laundering.

On the same day, French lawyer Alain Duflo told Izvestia that the theft at the Louvre Museum was the work of professionals who knew the place perfectly well and chose the right moment, and the state was responsible for what happened. According to him, security controls at the museum, which is visited by thousands of people every day, remain superficial. The robbery took place in the part of the Louvre where repairs were being carried out and the video surveillance system was not activated.

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised that the jewelry that disappeared as a result of the Louvre robbery will be found. He also called the Louvre robbery an encroachment on the historical heritage of France.

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